I see stuff like this and pray it will soon be available ā and properly tested for FDA approval ā for my doctor to use. The cortisone injections didnāt help all that much and Iāve been advised that Iām not a candidate for knee replacement.
Oh when oh when!
In fact, the new hydrogel (that's 90 percent water and composed of a double-network matrix and a fiber network) adheres to tissues even more when it's compressed or stretched. Dominique Pioletti, one of the team leaders, explained that it's because the "double network structure distributes incoming mechanical energy throughout" the hydrogel. If you load the material with repair cells or drugs, it can heal broken cartilages without the need to damage them further with sutures.
More hopeful stuff @ Sticky hydrogel could revolutionize knee surgery
